XXIX. EXHORTATION TO PRAYER.

WHAT various hindrances we meet
In coming to a mercy-seat!

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,
But wishes to be often there?

Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight,

Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when through weariness they fail'd,
That moment Amalek prevail'd.*

Have you no words? Ah! think again,
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.

Were half the breath thus vainly spent
To Heaven in supplication sent,

Your cheerful song would oftener be,
"Hear what the Lord has done for me.'

XXX. THE LIGHT AND GLORY OF THE WORD.

THE Spirit breathes upon the Word,`

And brings the truth to sight;

Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun;
It gives a light to every age,
It gives, but borrows none.
The hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat:
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise, but never set.

Let everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a bright display,

As makes a world of darkness shine

With beams of heavenly day.

My soul rejoices to pursue
The steps of him I love,

Till glory breaks upon my view
In brighter worlds above.

Exodus xvii. 11.

XXXI, ON THE DEATH OF A MINISTER.

His master taken from his head,
Elisha saw him go;

And in desponding accents said,
'Ah, what must Israel do?"

66

But he forgot the Lord who lifts
The beggar to the throne;
Nor knew, that all Elijah's gifts
Will soon be made his own.

What! when a Paul has run his course,
Or when Apollos dies,

Is Israel left without resource?
And have we no supplies?

Yes, while the dear Redeemer lives
We have a boundless store,

And shall be fed with what he gives,
Who lives for evermore.

XXXXII. THE SHINING LIGHT.

My former hopes are fled,
My terror now begins;
I feel, alas! that I am dead
In trespasses and sins.

Ah, whither shall I fly?
I hear the thunder roar ;
The law proclaims destruction nigh,
And vengeance at the door.
When I review my ways,
I dread impending doom:

But sure a friendly whisper says,
"Flee from the wrath to come."

I see, or think I see,

A glimmering from afar;

A beam of day, that shines for me,
To save me from despair.

Forerunner of the sun,*

It marks the pilgrim's way;
I'll gaze upon it while I run,
And watch the rising day.

XXXIII. SEEKING THE BELOVED.

To those who know the Lord I speak,

Is my beloved near?

The bridegroom of my soul I seek,
Oh! when will he appear?

Psalm cxxx. 6.

Though once a man of grief and shame, Yet now he fills a throne,

And bears the greatest, sweetest name,
That earth or heaven has known.

Grace flies before, and love attends
His steps where'er he goes;

Though none can see him but his friends,
And they were once his foes.

He speaks-obedient to his call,
Our warm affections move:
Did he but shine alike on all,
Then all alike would love.

Then love in every heart would reign,
And war would cease to roar;
And cruel and bloodthirsty men
Would thirst for blood no more.

Such Jesus is, and such his grace,
Oh, may he shine on you

And tell him, when you see his face,
I long to see him too."

*

XXXIV. THE WAITING SOUL.

BREATHE from the gentle south, O Lord,
And cheer me from the north;
Blow on the treasures of thy word,
And call the spices forth!

I wish, thou know'st, to be resign'd,
And wait with patient hope;
But hope delay'd fatigues the mind,
And drinks the spirit up.

Help me to reach the distant goal,
Confirm my feeble knee;

Pity the sickness of a soul

That faints for love of thee.

Cold as I feel this heart of mine,
Yet, since I feel it so,
It yields some hope of life divine
Within, however low.

I seem forsaken and alone,

I hear the lion roar;

And ev'ry door is shut but one,
And that is mercy's door.

There, till the dear Deliv'rer come,
I'll wait with humble pray'r;
And when he calls his exile home,
The Lord shall find me there.

Canticles v. 8.

XXXV. WELCOME CROSS.

'Tis my happiness below

Not to live without the cross,
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss:
Trials must and will befall;
But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,
This is happiness to me.

God in Israel sows the seeds

Of affliction, pain, and toil;
These spring up and choke the weeds
Which would else o'erspread the soil:
Trials make the promise sweet,

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to his feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.
Did I meet no trials here,

No chastisement by the way:
Might I not, with reason, fear
I should prove a castaway?
Bastards may escape the rod,*
Sunk in earthly, vain delight;
But the true born child of God
Must not, would not, if he might.

XXXVI. AFFLICTIONS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD.

O HOW I love thy holy word,

Thy gracious covenant, O Lord!

It guides me in the peaceful way;
I think upon it all the day.

What are the mines of shining wealth,

The strength of youth, the bloom of health!

What are all joys compared with those
Thine everlasting word bestows!

Tong unafflicted, undismay'd,
In pleasure's path secure I stray'd;
Thou madest me feel thy chastening rod,+
And straight I turn'd unto my God.

What though it pierced my fainting heart,
I bless thine hand that caused the smart;
It taught my tears awhile to flow,
But saved me from eternal woe.

Oh! hadst thou left me unchastised,
Thy precept I had still despised;
And still the snare in secret laid,
Had my unwary feet betray'd.

Hebrews xii. 8.

† Psalm cxix. 71.

I love thee, therefore, O my God,
And breathe towards thy dear abode;
Where, in thy presence fully blest,
Thy chosen saints for ever rest.

XXXVII. TEMPTATION.

THE billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call,-
My fears are great, my strength is small.

Lord, the pilot's part perform,

And guard and guide me through the storm,
Defend me from each threatening ill,
Control the waves,-say, " Peace, be still."
Amidst the roaring of the sea,

My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.
Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world's deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.
Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter'd bark again.

XXXVIII. LOOKING UPWARDS IN A STORM.
GOD of my life, to thee I call,
Afflicted at thy feet I fall;

When the great water-floods prevail,"
Leave not my trembling heart to fail!
Friend of the friendless and the faint!
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor!
Did ever mourner plead with thee,
And thou refuse that mourner's plea?
Does not the word still fix'd remain,
That none shall seek thy face in vain?

That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God,
Supports me under every load.
Fair is the lot that's cast for me;
I have an Advocate with thee;
They whom the world caresses most
Have no such privilege to boast.

Psalm 1xix. 15.